All “SMILES” at Wetaskiwin Hospital

Judging by the smiling faces of staff in the Wetaskiwin Hospital on September 17th, 2012 they would welcome having a Tim Horton’s open for business in the Hospital every day of the year. But on this special day, for $3.00 staff were treated to a Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie and a cup of coffee. But the real big smiles were on the faces of Lillian Dykes, Executive Director, Wetaskiwin Health Foundation and Diane Denham, Care Manager, Wetaskiwin Hospital. Every dollar from those cookie and coffee combos will stay in the Wetaskiwin Hospital to support the purchase of new cribs for the Pediatric Ward.

Diane Denham stresses the importance of the campaign.

“The current cribs are 22 years old and no longer meet the CSA standards of Alberta Health Services. The new ones will have safer materials and much better design features. The side rails will not be as heavy and combined with the swing-open access, will provide quiet, convenient patient care. They will be equipped with a scale system, an important feature for monitoring the small patients. It’s also important to note these cribs will have a high-low feature so they can be elevated or lowered as needed. We consider this an essential safety feature by preventing injuries to the backs, arms, shoulders and wrists of our staff. Many new features built into this crib have the safety of the children as an important consideration.” Each crib costs between $9000 and $10,000 dollars and Diane is hoping they are able to replace 5 of them.

Smile cookies on sale September 19th to 23rd

The cookie/coffee sale in the Wetaskiwin Hospital is the kick-off to a much larger campaign that runs from September 19th to 23rd, 2012. For the entire week all proceeds from the $1.00 Smile Cookies in Tim Horton’s, South and Tim Horton’s, Tower locations in Wetaskiwin will be donated to the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation. Manager of Tim Horton’s, Tower, Kristy Berner, “wanted to really celebrate Smile Cookie this year so suggested a big blast off party at the Hospital. This year we have ordered 50 boxes of cookies with each box holding 120 cookies. It’s wonderful we can be in the Hospital for this and to be able to help with the purchase of the equipment.”

Donna Paul the store owner of both Tim Horton’s feels, “it is a privilege for Tim Horton’s to be part of such a worthwhile cause. This year we are raising funds towards the purchase of new cribs for the Pediatrics ward. So every dollar raised here in the Hospital will go to that cause and then for the rest of the week, money raised from the sale of Smile Cookies will also go to that cause”.

Donna proudly describes the extra effort made by the staff at Tim Horton’s. “Baking, decorating, packaging and selling the cookies is in addition to their regular workload so I am proud of the smiles they are offering customers as they sell the cookies.”

Tim Horton’s and the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation have maintained a strong relationship since 2004. That year the Smile Cookie campaign helped raise $1,734.00 to assist with the purchase of the greatly appreciated piece of medical equipment, the CT Scanner. Each year, the community support of the campaign has grown. In 2011 the restaurants exceeded their annual quota of cookies and had to import additional cookies from surrounding Tim Horton’s locations and raised $5676.00 that was invested directly into healthcare in this community.

Funding received from the government provides a base standard of healthcare throughout the province. However, when a community decides they want to exceed that base standard, they do so through a Health Foundation. The purchase of equipment and services that would not otherwise have been possible attracts and retains top quality staff.

With the assistance of a generous community, Wetaskiwin has one of the best equipped healthcare facilities in the province bragging a laparoscopic camera system for gynecological and general surgery (minimal invasion using small incisions and a camera), phacoemulsifier (cataract removal), dialysis unit, video processor with high definition monitors for laparoscopic procedures, ultrasound machine for Diagnostic Imaging Department, CT Scanner…and the list goes on.

Much of this state-of-the-art equipment was purchased by the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation through generous donations made by individuals, foundations, clubs, businesses and corporations and of course, parking fees. Top notch medical professionals follow top notch equipment so that is why each and every investment that comes in to the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation is so important. As the need for healthcare services increases, there is a growing reliance on the Wetaskiwin Health Foundation (WHF) to make up a financial short-fall.

Although Smile Cookies are only available for one week the difference they make will last forever. Forget the calories and indulge. Just think of all the people who have benefited from the CT Scanner since 2004.

Leduc Recreation Centre Fitness ChallengeLeduc’s 50/50 Spring Fitness Challenge is back at the Leduc Recreation Centre (LRC), April 6 – June 9, 2015. “Registered participants will have 65 days to complete 50 minutes of activity for 50 days at the LRC,” says Lee ...